The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-11-30
WE NET BY CHANCE.

" - AAA<A II l.
If her -four had not become weevily |
should never have met her.
a series of accidents had been ap-
parently especially arranged to prevent
such meeting, which had it occurred
would probably have been a very COM
mon'pace event; it was the non-occur-
renee, taken in connection with the sub
sequent occurrence, which made rather
singular affair of it.
The lady to whom have referred as
her is still to me an "unknown
quantity" for, as though the series of
accidents should be completed, | have
lost the memorandum book in which.
some eighteen years ago, / very carefully
noted down either her name, or that of
her husband, the name of the vessel he
commanded, for he was Whaling
captain, and probably their home adj.
dress; and said names have as completely
left my memory as has the memorandum
book my possession. Therefore | can in
'his story refer to the lady only as cher"
or ''she," unless indeed, excused bv the
poverty oi our own language to meet such
an emergency, L borrow title from
another, and call her Madame; this
sounds more respectful, and | will.
There Is vague impression upon my
mind that the schooner - hailed from
somewhere on Cape Cod, and that be-
tween the heel and toe of that boot
shaped peninsula was, and hope still is,
the home of my friend.
Eaily in the morning of the Fourth of
July, 1870, the little tug -gunboat Palos,
under my command on the thirteenth
day of voyage from Boston to China.
ran into Horta Bay, harbor of the island
OF Fayal. As soon after anchorinp as
possible, |, tired and sleepy from an all
night on deck, turned in for nap, from
which, an hour or so after, | was broken
out by messenger, who delivered a note
addressed in lady's handwriting thus;
The Captain of the American man-of-
war, HoIta Bay
As nearly as | can remember the con-
tents of this note were as follows:
.. DEAR SIR hope you will pardon the
liberty | am about to take in asking of Won a
great favor, in granting which you will rem
der most valuable and ever to be appreciated
aid to a fellow-countrywoman in great dis
tress. Can and will you lend me flour sevel
lhe steward has most careleSsly lost mine
overheard, and cannot obtain such an ar
lcle IN Fayal; and unless you can help me ]
don't know what | shall do, for our flour is
so tull OF weevlls that cannot use it. Yours
respectfully,
Mrs. - Am. whaling schooner -.
Fortunately, l was the owner of very
good flour sieve, and as a matter of
course and duty-for in my Instructions
was charged to ''render all practicable
assistance TO American vessels in dist. ess"
i sent it. After breakfast | went on
deck to take my usual two miles constitu-
tional and my first smoke.
| was never quite sure about having
fairly accomplished the two miles of nv
stint, for, as my promenade was quite
limited, 57S turns were reouired. and
found considerable difficulty in mechani
cally counting correctly, at the same
time thinking of other matters: but bv
carrying 51S beans in my outside pocket
and dropping one at each terminus, pre-
sumo that my reckoning was often tolera-
bly, close.
While tramping this morning, my at
tentlon was so taken up by the scenery.
which included mountains, a pretty
white city, fishing and bumboats, that 1
lost the run of my progress altogether
Naturally | sought out the schooner
from which the note had come; there was
no difficulty in identifying her; the four
or five whale boats hanging at her davits
and astern proclaimed her vocation, and
her nationality was so plainly marked by
large and new American ensign, which
in honor of Independence Day or our ar
rival was floating from her peak.
Another point made identification very
easy and sure; excepting ourselves and
her the harbor was bare of vessels. AL
though at times quite number of the
plum puddings, as the whaling schoon-
ers which go out but for a single seasons
work are called, make of this harbor a
resort for the procurement of water, fruit
and provisions, and to enioya gam, as
is termed in whaler parlancea chatty ship
visit.
AS was the case with my friend, these
schOoners generally anchor well outside,
for many of their crew, among whom
there is always n large proportion of
brand new sailors, never before used, are
apt to fancy that they need refreshments
ether than those which the captain will
procure, and they are very likely, if at
all handy TO the wharves, to give them
selves liberty and obtain them. The
schooner was a tine-looking craft, and it
struck me that it would not be a bad plan
for me to go on board of her, call on the
Madame, and offer any further assistance
in my power. This proceeded to do,
and in short row my gig brought me
and a bundle of latest papers alongside
of her. | was received by the captain
and ushered into the cabin, where was
presented to his wife, my still unknown
correspondent. They were young people,
evidently glad to see me as | was to see
them, and we passed very pleasant two
hours.
As is the custom when one goes visit
ing on board someone else's vessel, and